Any post that deals with a religious theme (even peripherally) gets a "Stained Glass" fractal. This post deals with a matter that is purely "black and white" (in my mind at least) so I chose Stained Glass 13 as today's cookie: I'm just sorry the image is so pretty because what I'll be talking about is frankly ugly.
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CNN reports those "delightful people" (SARCASM ON) at the Westboro Baptist Church have announced they will be picketing the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards. These are the same people who used to picked funerals of those who died of AIDS then decided they could get more coverage picketing funerals of American soldiers killed in action. If you need to read the story here's a link you can check out: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/09/elizabeth-edwards-funeral-westboro-baptist-church_n_794333.html . (WARNING: this is disgusting--and it's me who's saying that!!!)
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I have a good vocabulary yet I find I can't find the words to sufficiently condem such utter and complete NONSENSE!!! Forget the fact that these fools have obvious never cracked the New Testament of the Holy Bible or that they have never heard of the words "Christian forgiveness." How can people who presume to call themselves a Christian Church have the NERVE to claim they know the mind of God? (Come on people--confining someone to HELL??? I thought only God could do that...) These people give Christians a bad name throughout the entire world.
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Normally, there's no greater advocate of Free Speech then me. Honestly, I believe they have a right to put this (pardon my French) utter shit out there: I just wonder who keeps feeling the need to continually bring these people (and folks like them) back to the national spotlight. What possible good does the Media feel can be done by giving them coverage? They are a tiny, fringe group that even many Fundamentalist Christians find hard to take: they add nothing to the national dialog and frankly don't deserve coverage.
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Therefor I have a suggestion that should be given serious consideration: lets introduce the Amish concept of "Shunning" to american society--and lets begin with the Westboro Baptist Church. When someone in the Amish community commits a serious offense they are completely ignored by the community as a whole. The offender is not spoken TO or OF: the community does there best to pretend the shunned individual never existed.
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Since I suggested the idea I'm going to be the first one to put it into practice: henceforward I promise that those people will never again be mentioned by me in this blog--or anywhere else. Let them say what they want and DO what they want: I won't comment and will pretend they don't exist. Never again will I waste metephorical ink or even a though on those people. Won't you join me?
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Think about it.
I chose Openwork 4 as today's fractal "cookie" because it is a tangled, candy-colored image and Tangled is a candy-colored movie! (I was desperate to find something--anything--worked and was too lazy to try and create a new image.) So--on with the review!
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The Disney marketing machine has a habit of milking the proverbial cow until it's dry--and they've done it no more than with the (in)famous "Disney Princesses" we know and love (?) so well. It seems the "Princess Cow" is coming to an end--not with a bang but a whimper. All that being said, Tangled isn't a BAD movie--it's just not all that good...
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Generally, I go into a movie hoping for the best but I went into Tangled hoping it just wouldn't be too bad. And, as I said in the previous paragraph--it's not bad. You have a familiar plot (if you know Rapunzel you know the story) jazzed up a bit for a modern audience. The all-too familiar characters are ably voiced by a cadre of well-know talents and seasoned professionals but there are no particularly standout performances in the whole lot. Most of the music is forgetable (even as you're listening to it). The animation is solid, craftsman-like work (pretty and well-rendered without being particularly memorable). Being Disney's 50th animated movie, I hoped for more but Tangled simply doesn't deliver.
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Tangled is perfect for young Princesses and their parents will probably be able to tolerate the movie--even if they don't love it. It's a toss up whether you bring the Princess's brothers to the movie (there's some action and a cute horse they're sure to love but a lot of gooshy romantic stuff to wade through. Animation fans need not go since there's nothing new and exciting for them and it will play just as well (maybe better) on DVD. Adults don't need to go unless they're mad Disney fans.
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FINAL GRADE: C+
A review of any "Harry Potter" movie requires a fractal cookie with something do to with magic. Hence I chose Magic Syne--and the coloor palette even goes with the film.
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Harry Potter films have grown longer and more complex with each film but really that's no surprise considering the books grew longer with each offering. Still, the long, thickly-stuffed films couldn't include nearly all the details in the books and the films came close to incomprehensible for non-fans. That's partly why the last film was divided into two parts: like the book.
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a dark and complex offering. Fans will find the film satisfying: non-fans might find it a bit confusing with so many characters you need a playbook to figure out who's who and how they are related. Still, dividing the movie into two parts helps clear up details left unexplalined in earlier offerings (although there is still a lot of details left out). The movie's dark and brooding tone matches the book. As always, the acting is fine and the special effects are first-rate. Still, there are a few things missing from this film: Hogwarts never appears and there is, of course, no spectacular Quidditch scenes to dazzle. Likewise missing are the humor and sense of cammeraderie that made the earlier books and movie such a wonderful experience. Even so, this fits with the book and, somber as it was, I found myself being sorry the I'll have to wait until July to see the rest.
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Fans and those who have read the books are sure to enjoy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One. It deserves to be seen on a big screen with good sound. Others may well find the movie confusing, long and a bit dull (but they probably wouldn't be jumping on the bandwagon at this late date). You know which group you belong to and that will determine whether you see the film.
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FINAL GRADE: A
Why is Kudzu an appropriate fractal cookie for a review of Little Shop Of Horrors? If you've seen the movie or the show you can probably figure it out: if you haven't check it out and the similarities should become clear. (If it's not clear after that you probably shouldn't be reading this blog. So--on with the review!
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Little Shop Of Horrors has made a long journey from the begining as a "Grade Z" black and white film directed by "Schlockmeister" Roger Corman way back in 1960. (These days the film is noted for the performance of a then-unknow Jack Nicholson.) The film quickly came and went leaving little impression but somebody got the bright idea to turn the property into a musical send-up of Sci Fi and Broadway musicals. Thanks largely to a clever script and awesome songs by Howard Ashman and Alan Mencken (who later went on to major fame as the musical force behind such hits as Disney's Litle Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and many others). The show ran Off-Broadway for five years and spawned a second movie (staring Rick Moranis). Since then the show has surfaced periodically in regional theaters throughout the nation.
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Little Shop of Horrors is a perfect show for a group like Performance Riverside: the cast is small and doesn't require a big band or major effects (with the exception of the puppetry required to manipulate Audrey 2). Still, the show DOES require everyone involved to be high-caliber talent--and this Performance Riverside has in plenty and they miss few opportunities to milk the show for all its worth. Seymour (Morgan Reynolds) is does "loveable nebbish" and he can seriously belt when he needs to (and that's pretty often in the show). Alyssa Marie has the big voice, great face and fine figure required for Audrey (but her outifts are way to understated for the character). Isaac James comes off as a bit to flamingly gay in his myriad roles (Orin the Dentist and several other minor parts) but his manic energy is effective and charming. (If they ever do Batman as a Broadway musical he'd be a magnificent Joker.) The "Urchins" are as fine a girl-group as the Crystals, Chiffons or Ronettes: they keep the show rolling along. Audrey 2 is given voice by M. Darnell Suttles and movement by Jason Graham. It wouoldn't be a show at the Landis without techncal problems and Audrey 2 gets the worst of it. Still, everything works (at least mostly) and they soldiered on no matter what.
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I need to give the cast exceptional "props": we show the show as a Sunday Matinee with an audience that was thoroughly uninvolved. Still, the cast gave 100% in spite of everything and a good time was had by all. The script and songs are clever and almost never let the pace flag: they never let the technical issues get the best of them. Little Shop Of Horros (at least this production is well worth the price of admission.
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FINAL GRADE: A-
A review of the Star Trek Exhibition requires a star-themed fractal--or so it seems to me. I chose Starcircle mainly because the colors reminded me of that odd mustard shirt Captain Kirk used to wear in the original series.
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I'm no "Trekker" (and certainly not a "Trekkie") but I've been a pretty big fan of Star Trek since Day One. I only got to see a few first run episodes in my youth but I devoured the reruns from the moment we got cable (and to this day tune in when to some of my favorite episodes when they're broadcast). I was there through all of Star Trek: the Next Generation and caught up with ruruns of DS-9 and Voyager. I wasn't a huge fan of Enterprise (the last/first Star Trek show but I was over-the-moon for the re-boot a couple of years ago. Needless to say I'd been wanting to see the Star Trek Exhibiton since it was first created but circumstances always conspired against me and wasn't able to make it. I missed the show in Long Beach, I missed it in Vegas and I missed it in Los Angeles. Today I finally got to see it.
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What a letdown...
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Maybe it was the fact that we parked four blocks away (there being nothing closer) or maybe it was because I went hiking in dress shoes. (It rained here last night and I didn't want to risk my nice suede causual shoes in puddles--of which there were many). Maybe it was the early lunch in a crowded, noisy (not to mention expensive) little restaurant or maybe I was just in a pissy mood. Still, tickets to the show was what I asked for as my birthday gift and I was bound and determined to enjoy myself.
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The exhibition offerings were pretty slim--nothing from the pilot episodes and only a few costumes from the original series. (William Shatner is a TINY man BTW...) Like any costume you don't want to get too close because then you can see all the little imperfectsions (of which there were many in the first show). Still, it was good to get a look at the old stuff. "TNG" was much better represented (having run for seven years and by then Paramount knew this stuff would be valueable one day) and "Voyager" gets a brief mention. There were re-constructions of the "Enterprise D" Medical Bay and Engineering Section which was kind of cool as well.
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Still, the show is notable for what it leaves out. There are no models of any of the ships (they've long been sold off to collectors) and the assembly of costumes seems frankly random. Kirk gets a lot of coverage but Spock barely gets a mention and the rest of the crew gets mentioned not at all. There are several Picard costumes and a few Troi ensembles but not much from the other characters in TNG. Katherine Janeway has one ensemble but that's about it for Voyager. Enterprise and the re-boot don't even get mentioned.
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Trekkers have seen this stuff before (and probably better examples) at conventions and those not utterly devoted to the series won't find a lot to inspire them. Mind you--the Star Trek Exhiition isn't all that BAD (particcularly considering it only cost $15.00 to get in) but it's really not all that good either. See it if you have a few extra bucks and nothing better to do...
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FINAL GRADE: C-
I couldn't really come up with a perfect fit for today's fractal cookie so I decided to go the "free association" route. Here's the chain: South Pacific is part of an ocean, oceans have waves--thus Wave On Wave becomes today's cookie. Now--on with the review!
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What can you say about an endearing and enduring classic like South Pacific? From start to finish the show is literally stuffed with memorable (and, more importantly, humable) tunes. Yes, there are some plot issues, chief among them Nellie being able to get past Emile's killing a man and the age difference but not being able to get past the fact that he had two "colored" children. Still, the show is a product of its time and way back then it was an issue. Looking at it from a "relativeist" point-of-view South Pacific made some valid points that resonate even today.
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The new National Tour of South Pacific has decided to re-create (as best they can) what the original Broadway production looked like. A massive (by touring standards) Orchestra (25 touring players augmented by local musicians) lays out a fantastic foundation for the able cast. The large cast doesn't skimp on talent and the Producers don't skimp on the details--whether it be Navy uniforms or the fact that black servicemen are pretty much always segregated. One thing the Producers did (which IMHO wasn't necessary) was add back in deleted music that hasn't been heard on stage since nearly the begining. Sadly, these are mostly reprises and only serve to make a long show even longer: they don't add anything but they don't really take anything away from the show either.
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Much of the credit for the tour's success goes to leads David Pittsinger and Carmen Cusak. Pittsinger (Emille Dubeque) is an Oera-trained Basso Profundo and literally everything stops each time this guy opens his mouth. (Yes, he's THAT good!) Sadly, his French accent sometimes wanders toward Transylvania but that is a minor quibble. Cusak (Nellie) is a more-than-suitable match for him in the pipes department: her put-on "country" accent was a bit off-putting (to me at least) when she is obviously so highly trained. Still, there's no denying her vocal chops, her acting ability or the fact that she's as cute as can be--everything a Nellie Forbush needs to be!
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Anderson Davis as Lt. Joe Cable doesn't fare quite so well: yes, he has the all-American good looks of a leading man but he blew "big notes" in TWO different songs! (In a cast this good, that's pretty much an unforgivealbe sin.) I also found his affair with Liat a tad creepy: Liat is played by Sume Maeda and she is a tiny little thing who looks, maybe, fourteen. I'd have much rather seen Cable getting it on with a lush Polynesia beauty than what looks distressingly like child molestation. The rest of the cast acquits themselves well and there's not a loser in the bunch.
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South Pacific is just about a perfect show: the plot is completely accessable and the music is perfectly crafted the singing and acting are first rate and there's nothing like a show with a full orchestra. Theater "Virgins" will have an experience like few others and only the most jaded "Veteran" won't find a lot to appreciate here. Tours like this don't come around very often so go see it while you can. GO SEE THIS SHOW!!!
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FINAL GRADE: A+
Sometimes choosing a fractal for these posts is virtually impossible. Other times it's as easy as falling off a long. For RED it was the latter: all I had to do was pick out an image that was mostly red. That's Why I chose Satin Arabesque 66(B) for today's image. Now--on with the review!
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There are few things better (at least at the movies) than a "really good" Action Comedy: likewise, there are few things harder to pull off. Lucky for me Red manages to work on both levels--action AND comedy. Yes, the plot has more holes than a thousand-pound wheel of premium Swiss Cheese but you don't go to these movies for the plot intracies: you go for the big battle scenes and witty banter--and this RED has in plenty. The action moves along so quickly you don't get a chance to worry over the sketchy plot unttil well after you've left the theater (and maybe not even then). Sadly, anybody with half a brain can figure out the details of tthe entire plot--but that's OK (unless maybe you have the soul of a Critic).
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Leading man Bruce Willis actually shows up to perform in this movie rather than phoning in his performance (and that's a refreshing change). His "Sad Sack" character with a hunger for love and bullets comes off as completely believeable and he's actually fun to watch for a change. Morgan Freeman is always reliable but doesn't get as much screen time as he deserves. You pretty much know going in that he won't survive: (the "oldster" never gets to see the end of an action movie--even in a movie filled with oldsters.) John Malkovich has turned crazy into his own personal franchise and he excels here. Aristocratic Helen Mirren is all class and deliciously murderous in her part and she can show "wannabes" like Angelina Jolie how it's donee. (Her mowing down the bad guys in an evening gown and combat boots is almost worth the price of admission.) Mary Louise Parker gets stuck as a "damsel in distress" for the first 2/3 of the movie but she finally gets to break out and go beyond the bonds of the conventional. Brian Cox plays a Russian but his accent wanders but he has a certain bearish charm in his cardboard character. Richard Dreyfuss shows up breifly and he does "weasel" quite well.
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RED is based on a DC Comics Graphic Novel (that I'd never heard of) but it doesn't translate as comic book at all. Makers of action movies (be they comedic or not) should have this movie as required viewing before they release on of their own. For the "ordinary" person Red is a wonderful fun outing in the theater. It's a great "date night" and fun for older folks who seldeom get to see characters like them portrayed in a positive light.
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FINAL GRADE: A
